It's always been you.
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Yu-Gi-Oh › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
4,656
Reviews:
7
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Yu-Gi-Oh › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
4
Views:
4,656
Reviews:
7
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I DON'T OWN YUGIOH AND I DON'T MAKE ANY MONEY FROM WRITING THIS.
Chapter one.
Chapter one.
History class seemed to go on forever with no end, it almost seemed like one of those days where time slowed down and everything was moving in slow motion. Joey couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so he could get out of there—since history was his least favorite class. As a kid, he’d always hated history for some reason. ‘It’s just something that bores me and makes me wanna puke’, he’d say.
He sat at his desk, slouched over.. with his head leaning forward. Slowly dozing off.. Ms. Anne saw this and sure enough she was walking over to his desk.
“Mr. Wheeler, I suggest you pick your head off this desk and pay attention to what I’m teaching! Unless you want to find yourself in detention this afternoon!”
“Mhm… “ Joey moaned, not listening to word she was saying.
“Alright that’s it young man, you owe me a 50,000 word essay on Why teachers hate when students disobey them. It’s due tomorrow and no later than that. If I don’t get this essay tomorrow, consider yourself suspended for 3 weeks.”
“WHAT?!?! A 50,000 word essay?! Ms Anne, you can’t be serious. I’m sorry okay! Look I won’t fall asleep in your class anymore. Is there something else I can do instead of writing this essay? You know I’m not good at writing. Please—I could stay behind after school and clean the classroom for you.” What was this teacher on? Joey thought. She was even meaner than his father.
Sigh.. “Alright Mr. Wheeler.. I will let this slide and you can clean the classroom. But no more sleeping in my class, you got it?”
“Yes, I do..” Joey said softly. Yugi looked a bit in his direction and mouthed the words “Are you okay?” Joey forced a weak smile on his face and nodded to Yugi. Yugi was one of Joey’s best friends and they did everything together. Aside from the others.. Yami, Anzu, Honda, Bakura and Ryou.. Yugi was the only one he could talk to about anything. They’d become friends about five years ago and their friendship was as deep as ever.. growing more each and every day. When Yugi saw Joey’s weak smile moments ago—he knew his best friend wasn’t at all okay and he planned to talk to Joey at lunch. This was their fourth period class and lunch was next. Joey’s favorite period of the day which we all can guess why: JOEY LOVED FOOD.
The bell soon rang and everyone rushed out of the classroom like there was a bomb in there. Yugi stopped at the door and waited for his friends.
“Hey guys”, Joey started while they all walked out to the courtyard--the best place to have lunch ..it was sunny, bright and lots of exotic flowers grew there. Benches were in formed in small circles and small tables were in the middle. There was even a water fountain and it was beautiful. Joey and his friends sat a table whilst placing their lunch boxes down—taking in the smell of the place and trying to unwind from their last class.
“Have you guys heard about that carnival coming up? It’s supposed to be at Avaryn Park down the street.” Anzu said proudly, if there was anything that girl liked more than tangerines—it was carnivals and other cheerful festivals. She couldn’t get enough of them. Last year she decided to have her own carnival for her birthday. Tons of guests were invited including the ‘rich and arrogant’ as she would say, Seto Kaiba. There were all kinds of dancing and games and not to mention, food. It was awesome and there’s no doubt about it she would want to go to this carnival at Avaryn Park—which was huge in comparison to the park she had her carnival at.
“No I haven’t” Joey yawned… He was exhausted from last night. His father was going on about some chick at some club and all he could do was sit there and listen.. he wasn’t able to sleep much. Now, he had to wait after school to clean Ms. Anne’s classroom. Jeez, I never seem to get any time to myself.. he thought bitterly.
“Joey, you okay? You look like someone just stole your favorite bike.” Yugi spoke.
“Yeah, Yug.. I’m fine. Just tired is all. I promise. Don’t worry about me.”
Anzu and Honda were discussing the carnival while Yugi was worrying about Joey. He’d never seen Joey this depressed. Something’s really bothering him and I plan to find out what it is.
“Are you sure, Joe? Do you need me to take you home or something? I’ll bring your homeworks and assignments over since we have the last 3 classes together.”
“Yug, I swear I’m okay. Don’t go turning into a worry-wart. Look I’ll go to carnival and have some fun. Are you happy now?”
Sigh.. “Yeah..”
“Yug..” Joey forced a smile, but Yugi wasn’t convinced. He wanted nothing more than his friend’s happiness and if his friends weren’t happy then he wasn’t happy either. But he trusted Joey.. and if Joey said he was alright then he must be alright. Joey wouldn’t lie to him, would he?
He pondered that question for a few minutes and came to the realization that Joey was his best friend and if he needed someone to talk to, then he was the first person Joey would come to and Joey wouldn’t stoop so low as to lying to him. He knew better than that.
“Will you two stop being so lovey dovey and give it a rest, already?” Bakura screeched. On the outside Bakura was one mean dumpling but on the inside, he was a softie and his friends all knew that. Especially Ryou—his lover, they’d started going out two years ago when Ryou had bumped into him unintentionally and spilled hot cocoa on him. He was angry but when he looked into Ryou’s big, innocent, almost puppy-like eyes. He knew he had fallen and hard. And now the couple were as inseparable as milk and cookies.
Both Joey and Yugi laughed. They’d known Bakura long enough to know he didn’t mean that comment. They always liked to tease him back with their witty comments as well. “Aww, is the baby not getting enough lovin’ from his lover? Is that it?” Joey chuckled. Yugi joined him and soon they were both bursting out with laughter.
Ryou blushed and tried to hide his face. “I hate you guys..” He mumbled.
“Don’t you dare go there!” Bakura slammed his fists on the table. He didn’t like when Joey and Yugi teased him about his love life. “Why not? Is there something you’re not telling us?” Joey winked and made a kissy face at him. They whole table started laughing as Bakura chased Joey around the courtyard.
“Get back here, you bastard. I’m so gonna get you for this and when I do. I’m sending you to the shadow realm!!”
“Ooooh, I’m so scared!” Joey shouted from a distance.
“All those who thinks Joey won’t get back here alive say ‘I’.” Honda spoke.
Everyone chimed in and said ‘I’ which then turned into laughter. “Ryou don’t be so shy, you know we’re just joking around.” Yugi, told Ryou.. who was shying away from the group and hiding his face.
“Yeah, well.. don’t do it again.. it’s embarrassing.”
“Sorry, bud. I promise we won’t do it again. It’s fun teasing Bakura though, heh..”
“When you guys are teasing him, I feel like I’m the one who’s being teased too.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way Ryou. You could’ve said something.”
“I tried..”
“We’re sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it”.
“Okay.”
Ryou smiled at Yugi reassuringly and Yugi smiled back and snuggled into the arms of his one and only Atem. Atem cuddled him and kissed his forehead tenderly. You can almost see the amount of love radiating off of those two. There couldn’t be a more true love than Yugi’s and Atem’s. They were made for each other.
“Mm..” Yugi purred and dozed off a bit.
“Atem smiled and held his other half close to him.” He was very protective of Yugi, indeed and Yugi loved him for that.
At the other end of the courtyard, Joey was being mercilessly tickled by Bakura.
“Okay, I give, I give. Please stop tickling me” Laughed Joey.
“Do you promise to stop with the teasing?”
“Yes, I do, I do.” Spoke Joey, breathing in short puffs of breath.
Bakura stopped tickling him and got up from the ground to get back to the group.
“Thanks, dude. Jeez, I thought I was gonna die from tickling alone.”
“Do you wanna test that theory?”
“God, no!”
“Good..” was the last words Bakura spoke before he arrived back at the table his friends were sitting at. Everyone looked up and smiled at him.
“So what’d you do with Joey?” Anzu asked.
“Nothing, just tickled him mercilessly and he died of laughter”. Bakura said coolly.
“He didn’t literally died, did he?”
“No, you idiot. He should be coming back here any minute now.”
“Great.” Yugi chirped happily.
Joey stumbled to his feet and was just about to go back to the group when he spotted Seto sitting under a huge tree. He was typing away at his laptop.. his chestnut colored hair swayed in the wind and his intense sapphire blue eyes were focused on the laptop screen. Whatever he's typing must be pretty important. Joey almost had the urge to go over and say something to the brunette but was too nervous for some odd reason. He probably doesn’t wanna talk to me anyway, why would he? To him, I’m just a nobody he would gladly pay to see suffer. I don’t know why I bother.. maybe it’s because there’s a part of me that wishes for something from him. Whatever it is, I’ll never know. At Anzu’s birthday party, he barely said anything to me besides the usual insults and embarrassing comments here and there. Sigh, I better get back to the group before they start wondering where I am.
Joey took one last look at Seto and turned away… Seto knew he was watching him. He could feel Joey’s eyes boring into his skin but he refused to give Joey the satisfaction of looking back. Besides he had other important work-related stuff to do than play the staring game with Joey.
He couldn’t help but watch as Joey slowly walked away though.. ‘Stop this at once, Seto! And get back to work’, he scolded himself.
He attempted to finish writing an email he was writing to one of the game producers at Kaiba Corp. But he couldn’t concentrate, all his thoughts were stuck on Joey and Joey alone. Groaning, he closed his laptop and rested his head against the tree. Why does he me make me feel this way?! Who does he think he is?! I’m Seto Kaiba and he’s.. he’s.. Seto was at a lost for words. He’s nobody! And I hate him and that dumb group he calls his friends. Pff, a bunch of idiots is more like it. How dare he invades my every thought like this!? I couldn’t care less about him!
Seto sighed… he knew he was denying the whole thing. But he had too much to deal with than something like this. Being the CEO of a company can take it's toll on you and if you're not careful, you can simply work yourself to death.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his house phone. He needed to hear Mokuba’s voice—the voice that always cheered him up more than anything.
“Hey, Seto!” Was the first thing he heard when Mokuba picked up the phone. He was a cheerful kid.
“Hey Mokie, I just called to see how you were doing. Are you okay? Did you eat anything yet? The maids cooked your favorite.”
“Yeah Seto, I ate. Don’t worry too much. Did you see Joey today?”
“No..” He lied.. he knew Mokuba would want Joey to come over and play video games with him after school and he just couldn’t afford to see Joey at his house right now or any time for that matter.
“Awwh, I was looking forward to play some video games with him. Can you find him and tell him to come over after school with you in the limo?”
“Mokuba.. I don’t think that’s a good idea. You can play video games with your friend Jason. Where’s he anyway? You never see him anymore. Weren’t you guys supposed to be best friends or something? Did anything happen?”
Sigh.. “No.. I just.. we just… he’s acting really weird these days and I….” He trailed off.
“Mokuba, if there’s something wrong, you can talk to me about it, you know? I’m always here for you, bud.”
“I know, Seto ..it’s just.. really complicated. You wouldn’t understand.” The only thing Seto could hear after that was the dial tone—meaning Mokuba had hung up the phone.
Something strange is going on with Mokuba and Jason.. That has to be it. Why else would Mokuba not want to talk about him? Did he do something to Mokuba? No, that can’t be it. They’ve been friends since Kindergarten and best ones at that. Jason’s a good guy and he’s been over at the mansion tons of times in the past. Mokuba and him used to do everything together. But what if that was all fake..? What if Jason has hurt Mokuba? I will personally see to it that he suffers. No one hurts my brother and expects me to be okay with it. They will pay, with their life if they have to.
Seto checked his watch and the bell was about to ring. He got up from the ground and dusted himself off. He didn’t want to be walking around with pieces of grass on his clothes.
On the way to his next class, something slammed into his back in the hallway and when he turned to see what it was. He was standing face to face with a blushing Joey Wheeler.
“Uhm.. sorry ..Kaiba.. I ..I didn’t see you t-there.” Stuttered Joey. He didn’t know why he was all of a sudden terrified of Seto. Probably because Seto looked like he was going to beat the crap out of him.
“Watch where you’re going next time, Mutt! Snarled Seto, he was not in the mood for this right now. He watched as Joey’s face expression changed from shy and red to sad and disappointed.
“You know what, Kaiba? Fuck you!” Seto raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘Do you really want an answer to that?’
Joey stormed into his classroom and sat at his desk. He hated that smug bastard, Seto Kaiba but couldn’t help but love him at the same time. Was he mad or was crazy the right word to describe him right now? He sighed as Seto walked in the room and sat at his usual desk. Great, he just had to have this class too? Didn’t he? I swear, sometimes I wanna push him up against a wall and..
“Joey? Is something wrong?” Asked Ms. Sammie—his Math teacher. She was the kindest and sweetest teacher in the whole school and Joey had taken a liking to her. She would sometimes tutor him when he wasn’t doing so good in the class and she was like a role model to him or a second mom. Since his real mom had taken his sister and gone to live somewhere in ..he didn’t even know where his mom and sister went. All he knew was that she took his sister when they were young and just left him with his father. The man was a drunken old scumbag and would sometimes beat Joey when he felt like it. Of course, Joey never told anyone about this though, he'd be too embarassed.
“Uh.. no, Ms. Sammie. But can I go to the restroom for a few minutes? Please?”
“Sure Joey, anything for my favorite student.” She smiled.
Joey returned a quick smile and walked out of the classroom to the boy’s bathroom down the hall. He opened the door and leaned against the wall and sat on the bare concrete floor… and then the tears came. He didn’t know when or how, they just came falling from his eyes. They were salty, he knew this because he felt a few on his lips. He didn't know the reasons for these tears but then he thought back to him and Seto in the hallway.
“He truly hates me…” He whispered to himself.. “Am I not good enough…? Am I stupid, am I an idiot? No, ‘mutt’ is what he’d say.” I’m wasting my time, why am I even here…? Crying like a baby over someone who doesn’t even give a damn about me. I’m really pathetic, that’s what I am. I shouldn’t let this get to me so much but damnit! How it hurts… and that bastard doesn’t even care. He wouldn’t even care if I died tomorrow.
Joey stopped crying when he heard footsteps outside the door. He wiped his eyes and straightened up a bit. He didn’t want to get caught crying. His eyes were glued to the door and when they opened he was surprised to see none other than, Seto.
He glanced away too quickly, not wanting to make eye contact for more than 5 seconds with the person who hates him the most.
“What are you doing in here, mutt? It’s been fifteen minutes and class is already half-way over.”
“Why do you care? It’s my business if I wanna stay here. Do whatever you have to do but just leave me alone.”
“Awwh, is the puppy sad about something his master should know about?”
“What?! You’re seriously insane, Kaiba. I don’t know what you’re talking about. And drop the master bullshit. You're not my master!”
"I'm sorry, puppy. I didn't mean to make you upset. Please don't think I'm a bad master. I promise, I'll be good.” Seto smirked, almost mischievously.
“Go to hell..” Mumbled Joey..
Seto flicked his forehead and sat down next to him, so close that their knees were touching. Joey shivered just from the touch and he hoped Seto wouldn’t notice.
"I don't think you mean that." He stroked a few of Joey's blonde locks, teasingly.
Joey closed his eyes and pretended for a moment that Seto actually cared.
"I do.."
"No, you love me and can't get enough of me. You dream about me at night and whisper my name to yourself every chance you get.
Joey chuckled darkly, a stray tear running down his cheek. "What'd you say if I told you that was true?"
Seto stopped whatever it is he was doing at the moment and stared directly into Joey's golden hazel eyes. "Don't make me laugh."
"Pff, so what are you doing here, exactly?"
"You were gone so long, I came to see if you were alright."
"Yeah, like that's believable. So..."
"So..."
“Are you going to that carnival at Avaryn Park, tomorrow?” Joey asked, smiling slightly at Seto.
Seto scoffed. “As if I’d have time for something as stupid as a carnival. I’m a CEO Joey, I have important stuff to do than worry about going to some carnival.”
“It’s not stupid…” A sad sigh was followed after that comment.
Seto looked at Joey and was surprised they weren’t throwing insults at each other but having a civil conversation. I never thought I’d see this day.
“Yes, it is. These people have nothing better to do than go to some silly event for some free food and games.”
“At least they’re having fun, do you have something against people having fun, Kaiba? If you do, then you really don’t have a heart.”
The words stung.. yes. How could they not? Coming from Joey… they hurt more than Seto would let on. He wanted to get up and leave but decided to stay instead. He wanted to spend more time with Joey but didn’t want Joey to know. Was this.. was he falling.. no… it can’t be. This wouldn't really bother his job since he owns the company and all but still.. he just couldn't do this to himself. He's sure to get hurt in the end. How do I even know he feels that way about me? He just said I have no heart..
“Yeah, I guess I don’t really have a heart… ‘rich, arrogant, and heartless’ Seto Kaiba. Heh…”
Joey looked up at Seto and he had a strange expression on his face. Almost unreadable but not quite. It looked pained but not quite either. It was hard to tell what Kaiba was thinking at the moment and it was then that Joey regretted his words. Why did I have to say he doesn't have a heart? Joey, you baka!
So that’s what you think of me, huh? I don’t have a heart… I’m sorry Joey. I wish I could be the Seto you want me to be but I can’t.
“Kaiba..?”
“I think we should get back to class… the bell’s gonna ring in a few minutes. I’ll tell the teacher you had a fever and I took you to the nurse. That way, she won’t give us this whole big lecture. Then again Ms. Sammie isn’t like that but you never know.”
“Uhh.. o-okay…”
Here let me help you up.. Seto got up and extended his hand to Joey which Joey gladly took. Has he been replaced by an alien or something? He’s acting weird. Maybe it’s something in the air. Definitely that or …Kaiba’s an alien and his real self is in outer space somewhere shouting for help.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” Kaiba responded… no real meaning in his words.
They got back to class and all eyes were on them. “Where were you, Joey?” Yugi whispered in his seat since his seat was the closest to Joey.
“Nowhere, Yug. Stop worrying.”
Yugi sighed and nodded, a bit disappointed. Why is he being like this? He used to tell me everything. What’s changed?
Seto told the teacher the ‘fake’ reason why he and Joey were late. The bell rung a few minutes after and everyone started getting their things together so they could leave.
The next two periods went by fast and it was finally the end of the day. Joey couldn’t be more happier at that point. He wanted to go home and get some much needed sleep. His father had left this morning on some 50 day fishing trip with some friends of his and that was one of the reasons why Joey was happy too. Not seeing his dad for 50 days. What could possibly be better?
Joey yawned and met up with his friends infront of the fountain in the courtyard. It was their usual meeting place. “Hey…” Joey said as he hugged Yugi.
“Joey! Glad you’re here, okay here’s what’s going on. The Carnival’s tomorrow right? We’re making tomorrow an official friendship day. We get to hang out all day tomorrow, going on all the rides and stuff together, eating all kinds of food, playing games, we’re going to have a blast and you have to be there, no excuses or we’ll come and drag you out of your house.”
When Anzu was finished talking, she was out of breath and drank some of her mountain dew she got from one of the vending machines in the hallway, to calm herself down.
“Jeez, Anzu—I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss that carnival for the world.”
“Good, because we weren’t gonna let you miss it in the first place.” Finished Anzu.
“Good, grief.. can we all just go home already? I’m having a sun burn over here and I need my Ryou to kiss it and make it all better for me but he can’t out here. He doesn’t like PDA.”
Ryou smacked Bakura on his head. “Ow!”
“You deserved that.”
“How come? I didn’t do anything, you meanie!”
“Call me meanie one more time and it’s going to be worse.”
Bakura pouted and sulked for the next 10 minutes.
Just then Joey remembered something...
“Sorry guys, I gotta stay and clean Ms. Anne's classroom. I promised her. It’s either that or I gotta write a 50,000 word essay. And you all know how I suck at writing so I gotta do this. See you guys tomorrow at the carnival. Bye!”
He ran off before his friends had a chance to respond.
Author's note: This is my first story here on AF and I hoped you enjoyed it so far. There's more chapters to come in the future. That's all you'll get for now. I know it wasn't as excited.. as you probably expected but I'm new to this whole writing thing and it'll probably take me some time. Reviews will be helpful. Thanks for reading.
History class seemed to go on forever with no end, it almost seemed like one of those days where time slowed down and everything was moving in slow motion. Joey couldn’t wait for the bell to ring so he could get out of there—since history was his least favorite class. As a kid, he’d always hated history for some reason. ‘It’s just something that bores me and makes me wanna puke’, he’d say.
He sat at his desk, slouched over.. with his head leaning forward. Slowly dozing off.. Ms. Anne saw this and sure enough she was walking over to his desk.
“Mr. Wheeler, I suggest you pick your head off this desk and pay attention to what I’m teaching! Unless you want to find yourself in detention this afternoon!”
“Mhm… “ Joey moaned, not listening to word she was saying.
“Alright that’s it young man, you owe me a 50,000 word essay on Why teachers hate when students disobey them. It’s due tomorrow and no later than that. If I don’t get this essay tomorrow, consider yourself suspended for 3 weeks.”
“WHAT?!?! A 50,000 word essay?! Ms Anne, you can’t be serious. I’m sorry okay! Look I won’t fall asleep in your class anymore. Is there something else I can do instead of writing this essay? You know I’m not good at writing. Please—I could stay behind after school and clean the classroom for you.” What was this teacher on? Joey thought. She was even meaner than his father.
Sigh.. “Alright Mr. Wheeler.. I will let this slide and you can clean the classroom. But no more sleeping in my class, you got it?”
“Yes, I do..” Joey said softly. Yugi looked a bit in his direction and mouthed the words “Are you okay?” Joey forced a weak smile on his face and nodded to Yugi. Yugi was one of Joey’s best friends and they did everything together. Aside from the others.. Yami, Anzu, Honda, Bakura and Ryou.. Yugi was the only one he could talk to about anything. They’d become friends about five years ago and their friendship was as deep as ever.. growing more each and every day. When Yugi saw Joey’s weak smile moments ago—he knew his best friend wasn’t at all okay and he planned to talk to Joey at lunch. This was their fourth period class and lunch was next. Joey’s favorite period of the day which we all can guess why: JOEY LOVED FOOD.
The bell soon rang and everyone rushed out of the classroom like there was a bomb in there. Yugi stopped at the door and waited for his friends.
“Hey guys”, Joey started while they all walked out to the courtyard--the best place to have lunch ..it was sunny, bright and lots of exotic flowers grew there. Benches were in formed in small circles and small tables were in the middle. There was even a water fountain and it was beautiful. Joey and his friends sat a table whilst placing their lunch boxes down—taking in the smell of the place and trying to unwind from their last class.
“Have you guys heard about that carnival coming up? It’s supposed to be at Avaryn Park down the street.” Anzu said proudly, if there was anything that girl liked more than tangerines—it was carnivals and other cheerful festivals. She couldn’t get enough of them. Last year she decided to have her own carnival for her birthday. Tons of guests were invited including the ‘rich and arrogant’ as she would say, Seto Kaiba. There were all kinds of dancing and games and not to mention, food. It was awesome and there’s no doubt about it she would want to go to this carnival at Avaryn Park—which was huge in comparison to the park she had her carnival at.
“No I haven’t” Joey yawned… He was exhausted from last night. His father was going on about some chick at some club and all he could do was sit there and listen.. he wasn’t able to sleep much. Now, he had to wait after school to clean Ms. Anne’s classroom. Jeez, I never seem to get any time to myself.. he thought bitterly.
“Joey, you okay? You look like someone just stole your favorite bike.” Yugi spoke.
“Yeah, Yug.. I’m fine. Just tired is all. I promise. Don’t worry about me.”
Anzu and Honda were discussing the carnival while Yugi was worrying about Joey. He’d never seen Joey this depressed. Something’s really bothering him and I plan to find out what it is.
“Are you sure, Joe? Do you need me to take you home or something? I’ll bring your homeworks and assignments over since we have the last 3 classes together.”
“Yug, I swear I’m okay. Don’t go turning into a worry-wart. Look I’ll go to carnival and have some fun. Are you happy now?”
Sigh.. “Yeah..”
“Yug..” Joey forced a smile, but Yugi wasn’t convinced. He wanted nothing more than his friend’s happiness and if his friends weren’t happy then he wasn’t happy either. But he trusted Joey.. and if Joey said he was alright then he must be alright. Joey wouldn’t lie to him, would he?
He pondered that question for a few minutes and came to the realization that Joey was his best friend and if he needed someone to talk to, then he was the first person Joey would come to and Joey wouldn’t stoop so low as to lying to him. He knew better than that.
“Will you two stop being so lovey dovey and give it a rest, already?” Bakura screeched. On the outside Bakura was one mean dumpling but on the inside, he was a softie and his friends all knew that. Especially Ryou—his lover, they’d started going out two years ago when Ryou had bumped into him unintentionally and spilled hot cocoa on him. He was angry but when he looked into Ryou’s big, innocent, almost puppy-like eyes. He knew he had fallen and hard. And now the couple were as inseparable as milk and cookies.
Both Joey and Yugi laughed. They’d known Bakura long enough to know he didn’t mean that comment. They always liked to tease him back with their witty comments as well. “Aww, is the baby not getting enough lovin’ from his lover? Is that it?” Joey chuckled. Yugi joined him and soon they were both bursting out with laughter.
Ryou blushed and tried to hide his face. “I hate you guys..” He mumbled.
“Don’t you dare go there!” Bakura slammed his fists on the table. He didn’t like when Joey and Yugi teased him about his love life. “Why not? Is there something you’re not telling us?” Joey winked and made a kissy face at him. They whole table started laughing as Bakura chased Joey around the courtyard.
“Get back here, you bastard. I’m so gonna get you for this and when I do. I’m sending you to the shadow realm!!”
“Ooooh, I’m so scared!” Joey shouted from a distance.
“All those who thinks Joey won’t get back here alive say ‘I’.” Honda spoke.
Everyone chimed in and said ‘I’ which then turned into laughter. “Ryou don’t be so shy, you know we’re just joking around.” Yugi, told Ryou.. who was shying away from the group and hiding his face.
“Yeah, well.. don’t do it again.. it’s embarrassing.”
“Sorry, bud. I promise we won’t do it again. It’s fun teasing Bakura though, heh..”
“When you guys are teasing him, I feel like I’m the one who’s being teased too.”
“I didn’t know you felt that way Ryou. You could’ve said something.”
“I tried..”
“We’re sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it”.
“Okay.”
Ryou smiled at Yugi reassuringly and Yugi smiled back and snuggled into the arms of his one and only Atem. Atem cuddled him and kissed his forehead tenderly. You can almost see the amount of love radiating off of those two. There couldn’t be a more true love than Yugi’s and Atem’s. They were made for each other.
“Mm..” Yugi purred and dozed off a bit.
“Atem smiled and held his other half close to him.” He was very protective of Yugi, indeed and Yugi loved him for that.
At the other end of the courtyard, Joey was being mercilessly tickled by Bakura.
“Okay, I give, I give. Please stop tickling me” Laughed Joey.
“Do you promise to stop with the teasing?”
“Yes, I do, I do.” Spoke Joey, breathing in short puffs of breath.
Bakura stopped tickling him and got up from the ground to get back to the group.
“Thanks, dude. Jeez, I thought I was gonna die from tickling alone.”
“Do you wanna test that theory?”
“God, no!”
“Good..” was the last words Bakura spoke before he arrived back at the table his friends were sitting at. Everyone looked up and smiled at him.
“So what’d you do with Joey?” Anzu asked.
“Nothing, just tickled him mercilessly and he died of laughter”. Bakura said coolly.
“He didn’t literally died, did he?”
“No, you idiot. He should be coming back here any minute now.”
“Great.” Yugi chirped happily.
Joey stumbled to his feet and was just about to go back to the group when he spotted Seto sitting under a huge tree. He was typing away at his laptop.. his chestnut colored hair swayed in the wind and his intense sapphire blue eyes were focused on the laptop screen. Whatever he's typing must be pretty important. Joey almost had the urge to go over and say something to the brunette but was too nervous for some odd reason. He probably doesn’t wanna talk to me anyway, why would he? To him, I’m just a nobody he would gladly pay to see suffer. I don’t know why I bother.. maybe it’s because there’s a part of me that wishes for something from him. Whatever it is, I’ll never know. At Anzu’s birthday party, he barely said anything to me besides the usual insults and embarrassing comments here and there. Sigh, I better get back to the group before they start wondering where I am.
Joey took one last look at Seto and turned away… Seto knew he was watching him. He could feel Joey’s eyes boring into his skin but he refused to give Joey the satisfaction of looking back. Besides he had other important work-related stuff to do than play the staring game with Joey.
He couldn’t help but watch as Joey slowly walked away though.. ‘Stop this at once, Seto! And get back to work’, he scolded himself.
He attempted to finish writing an email he was writing to one of the game producers at Kaiba Corp. But he couldn’t concentrate, all his thoughts were stuck on Joey and Joey alone. Groaning, he closed his laptop and rested his head against the tree. Why does he me make me feel this way?! Who does he think he is?! I’m Seto Kaiba and he’s.. he’s.. Seto was at a lost for words. He’s nobody! And I hate him and that dumb group he calls his friends. Pff, a bunch of idiots is more like it. How dare he invades my every thought like this!? I couldn’t care less about him!
Seto sighed… he knew he was denying the whole thing. But he had too much to deal with than something like this. Being the CEO of a company can take it's toll on you and if you're not careful, you can simply work yourself to death.
He pulled out his phone and dialed his house phone. He needed to hear Mokuba’s voice—the voice that always cheered him up more than anything.
“Hey, Seto!” Was the first thing he heard when Mokuba picked up the phone. He was a cheerful kid.
“Hey Mokie, I just called to see how you were doing. Are you okay? Did you eat anything yet? The maids cooked your favorite.”
“Yeah Seto, I ate. Don’t worry too much. Did you see Joey today?”
“No..” He lied.. he knew Mokuba would want Joey to come over and play video games with him after school and he just couldn’t afford to see Joey at his house right now or any time for that matter.
“Awwh, I was looking forward to play some video games with him. Can you find him and tell him to come over after school with you in the limo?”
“Mokuba.. I don’t think that’s a good idea. You can play video games with your friend Jason. Where’s he anyway? You never see him anymore. Weren’t you guys supposed to be best friends or something? Did anything happen?”
Sigh.. “No.. I just.. we just… he’s acting really weird these days and I….” He trailed off.
“Mokuba, if there’s something wrong, you can talk to me about it, you know? I’m always here for you, bud.”
“I know, Seto ..it’s just.. really complicated. You wouldn’t understand.” The only thing Seto could hear after that was the dial tone—meaning Mokuba had hung up the phone.
Something strange is going on with Mokuba and Jason.. That has to be it. Why else would Mokuba not want to talk about him? Did he do something to Mokuba? No, that can’t be it. They’ve been friends since Kindergarten and best ones at that. Jason’s a good guy and he’s been over at the mansion tons of times in the past. Mokuba and him used to do everything together. But what if that was all fake..? What if Jason has hurt Mokuba? I will personally see to it that he suffers. No one hurts my brother and expects me to be okay with it. They will pay, with their life if they have to.
Seto checked his watch and the bell was about to ring. He got up from the ground and dusted himself off. He didn’t want to be walking around with pieces of grass on his clothes.
On the way to his next class, something slammed into his back in the hallway and when he turned to see what it was. He was standing face to face with a blushing Joey Wheeler.
“Uhm.. sorry ..Kaiba.. I ..I didn’t see you t-there.” Stuttered Joey. He didn’t know why he was all of a sudden terrified of Seto. Probably because Seto looked like he was going to beat the crap out of him.
“Watch where you’re going next time, Mutt! Snarled Seto, he was not in the mood for this right now. He watched as Joey’s face expression changed from shy and red to sad and disappointed.
“You know what, Kaiba? Fuck you!” Seto raised an eyebrow as if to say ‘Do you really want an answer to that?’
Joey stormed into his classroom and sat at his desk. He hated that smug bastard, Seto Kaiba but couldn’t help but love him at the same time. Was he mad or was crazy the right word to describe him right now? He sighed as Seto walked in the room and sat at his usual desk. Great, he just had to have this class too? Didn’t he? I swear, sometimes I wanna push him up against a wall and..
“Joey? Is something wrong?” Asked Ms. Sammie—his Math teacher. She was the kindest and sweetest teacher in the whole school and Joey had taken a liking to her. She would sometimes tutor him when he wasn’t doing so good in the class and she was like a role model to him or a second mom. Since his real mom had taken his sister and gone to live somewhere in ..he didn’t even know where his mom and sister went. All he knew was that she took his sister when they were young and just left him with his father. The man was a drunken old scumbag and would sometimes beat Joey when he felt like it. Of course, Joey never told anyone about this though, he'd be too embarassed.
“Uh.. no, Ms. Sammie. But can I go to the restroom for a few minutes? Please?”
“Sure Joey, anything for my favorite student.” She smiled.
Joey returned a quick smile and walked out of the classroom to the boy’s bathroom down the hall. He opened the door and leaned against the wall and sat on the bare concrete floor… and then the tears came. He didn’t know when or how, they just came falling from his eyes. They were salty, he knew this because he felt a few on his lips. He didn't know the reasons for these tears but then he thought back to him and Seto in the hallway.
“He truly hates me…” He whispered to himself.. “Am I not good enough…? Am I stupid, am I an idiot? No, ‘mutt’ is what he’d say.” I’m wasting my time, why am I even here…? Crying like a baby over someone who doesn’t even give a damn about me. I’m really pathetic, that’s what I am. I shouldn’t let this get to me so much but damnit! How it hurts… and that bastard doesn’t even care. He wouldn’t even care if I died tomorrow.
Joey stopped crying when he heard footsteps outside the door. He wiped his eyes and straightened up a bit. He didn’t want to get caught crying. His eyes were glued to the door and when they opened he was surprised to see none other than, Seto.
He glanced away too quickly, not wanting to make eye contact for more than 5 seconds with the person who hates him the most.
“What are you doing in here, mutt? It’s been fifteen minutes and class is already half-way over.”
“Why do you care? It’s my business if I wanna stay here. Do whatever you have to do but just leave me alone.”
“Awwh, is the puppy sad about something his master should know about?”
“What?! You’re seriously insane, Kaiba. I don’t know what you’re talking about. And drop the master bullshit. You're not my master!”
"I'm sorry, puppy. I didn't mean to make you upset. Please don't think I'm a bad master. I promise, I'll be good.” Seto smirked, almost mischievously.
“Go to hell..” Mumbled Joey..
Seto flicked his forehead and sat down next to him, so close that their knees were touching. Joey shivered just from the touch and he hoped Seto wouldn’t notice.
"I don't think you mean that." He stroked a few of Joey's blonde locks, teasingly.
Joey closed his eyes and pretended for a moment that Seto actually cared.
"I do.."
"No, you love me and can't get enough of me. You dream about me at night and whisper my name to yourself every chance you get.
Joey chuckled darkly, a stray tear running down his cheek. "What'd you say if I told you that was true?"
Seto stopped whatever it is he was doing at the moment and stared directly into Joey's golden hazel eyes. "Don't make me laugh."
"Pff, so what are you doing here, exactly?"
"You were gone so long, I came to see if you were alright."
"Yeah, like that's believable. So..."
"So..."
“Are you going to that carnival at Avaryn Park, tomorrow?” Joey asked, smiling slightly at Seto.
Seto scoffed. “As if I’d have time for something as stupid as a carnival. I’m a CEO Joey, I have important stuff to do than worry about going to some carnival.”
“It’s not stupid…” A sad sigh was followed after that comment.
Seto looked at Joey and was surprised they weren’t throwing insults at each other but having a civil conversation. I never thought I’d see this day.
“Yes, it is. These people have nothing better to do than go to some silly event for some free food and games.”
“At least they’re having fun, do you have something against people having fun, Kaiba? If you do, then you really don’t have a heart.”
The words stung.. yes. How could they not? Coming from Joey… they hurt more than Seto would let on. He wanted to get up and leave but decided to stay instead. He wanted to spend more time with Joey but didn’t want Joey to know. Was this.. was he falling.. no… it can’t be. This wouldn't really bother his job since he owns the company and all but still.. he just couldn't do this to himself. He's sure to get hurt in the end. How do I even know he feels that way about me? He just said I have no heart..
“Yeah, I guess I don’t really have a heart… ‘rich, arrogant, and heartless’ Seto Kaiba. Heh…”
Joey looked up at Seto and he had a strange expression on his face. Almost unreadable but not quite. It looked pained but not quite either. It was hard to tell what Kaiba was thinking at the moment and it was then that Joey regretted his words. Why did I have to say he doesn't have a heart? Joey, you baka!
So that’s what you think of me, huh? I don’t have a heart… I’m sorry Joey. I wish I could be the Seto you want me to be but I can’t.
“Kaiba..?”
“I think we should get back to class… the bell’s gonna ring in a few minutes. I’ll tell the teacher you had a fever and I took you to the nurse. That way, she won’t give us this whole big lecture. Then again Ms. Sammie isn’t like that but you never know.”
“Uhh.. o-okay…”
Here let me help you up.. Seto got up and extended his hand to Joey which Joey gladly took. Has he been replaced by an alien or something? He’s acting weird. Maybe it’s something in the air. Definitely that or …Kaiba’s an alien and his real self is in outer space somewhere shouting for help.
“Thanks.”
“No problem.” Kaiba responded… no real meaning in his words.
They got back to class and all eyes were on them. “Where were you, Joey?” Yugi whispered in his seat since his seat was the closest to Joey.
“Nowhere, Yug. Stop worrying.”
Yugi sighed and nodded, a bit disappointed. Why is he being like this? He used to tell me everything. What’s changed?
Seto told the teacher the ‘fake’ reason why he and Joey were late. The bell rung a few minutes after and everyone started getting their things together so they could leave.
The next two periods went by fast and it was finally the end of the day. Joey couldn’t be more happier at that point. He wanted to go home and get some much needed sleep. His father had left this morning on some 50 day fishing trip with some friends of his and that was one of the reasons why Joey was happy too. Not seeing his dad for 50 days. What could possibly be better?
Joey yawned and met up with his friends infront of the fountain in the courtyard. It was their usual meeting place. “Hey…” Joey said as he hugged Yugi.
“Joey! Glad you’re here, okay here’s what’s going on. The Carnival’s tomorrow right? We’re making tomorrow an official friendship day. We get to hang out all day tomorrow, going on all the rides and stuff together, eating all kinds of food, playing games, we’re going to have a blast and you have to be there, no excuses or we’ll come and drag you out of your house.”
When Anzu was finished talking, she was out of breath and drank some of her mountain dew she got from one of the vending machines in the hallway, to calm herself down.
“Jeez, Anzu—I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss that carnival for the world.”
“Good, because we weren’t gonna let you miss it in the first place.” Finished Anzu.
“Good, grief.. can we all just go home already? I’m having a sun burn over here and I need my Ryou to kiss it and make it all better for me but he can’t out here. He doesn’t like PDA.”
Ryou smacked Bakura on his head. “Ow!”
“You deserved that.”
“How come? I didn’t do anything, you meanie!”
“Call me meanie one more time and it’s going to be worse.”
Bakura pouted and sulked for the next 10 minutes.
Just then Joey remembered something...
“Sorry guys, I gotta stay and clean Ms. Anne's classroom. I promised her. It’s either that or I gotta write a 50,000 word essay. And you all know how I suck at writing so I gotta do this. See you guys tomorrow at the carnival. Bye!”
He ran off before his friends had a chance to respond.
Author's note: This is my first story here on AF and I hoped you enjoyed it so far. There's more chapters to come in the future. That's all you'll get for now. I know it wasn't as excited.. as you probably expected but I'm new to this whole writing thing and it'll probably take me some time. Reviews will be helpful. Thanks for reading.